France, March 26 -- Niger's ruling junta said there would be a five-year transition to constitutional rule starting from Wednesday, in an announcement during a signing ceremony for a new transition charter.

Junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani was sworn in as the country's transitional president on Wednesday.

A senior government official saidTiani will head the nation over afive-year "flexible" transition to constitutional rule.

The move effectively rebuffed attempts by the regional bloc to quicken the return to democracy.

The military in power in the Sahelian countrystaged a coup in 2023 and ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Global push grows to free Niger's former president Mohamed BazoumNew timeframe

The five-year "flexible" transitio...